Data model and comparison and query methods for interacting classifications in a taxonomic database

An information-theoretic view has been applied to biological classification to capture taxonomic concepts as taxonomic data entities and to develop a system for managing these concepts and the lineage relationships among them. In order to develop the data model, it has been necessary to apply explicit definitions to several taxonomic terms that generally have not been precisely defined and to coin and define several new terms and concepts. Methods are outlined for comparing interacting classifications and querying hierarchical taxonomic databases. A program/database system called HICLAS, which provides an X-Window interface to query classification data, is available on the Internet.

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